What is my car worth?

At Custom Car Sales we get asked this questions almost daily. The fact is that as car enthusiasts we spend a fair bit on our cars. Sometimes it is for investment and calculations are made to help make money on a car.

More often than not we spend more than any possible return on the car.

So what's the answer to the question? Well a car is the same as many things in life and it is only worth what people are willing to pay. Especially with highly modified and custom cars, the task of putting a price on your pride and joy makes life even more difficult. 

There are a few questions to ask yourself:

1. How quickly do I need to sell?
1. If you are in no hurry to sell advertise the car on a site that your ad runs for an extended time.
2. Think of a price that you would not be able to turn down if someone walked up to you and offered and use that as your starting price. As you get more motivated to sell modify your ad and drop the price.
3. If you are in a hurry it comes down to what is on the market around the same style model etc. More importantly you need to price the car at about 10% above what you need to allow for some negotiation.
2. What work am I prepared to put into selling my car?
1. It still amazes me how little "work" owners put into selling their cars. the most effective way to get more people to see your car is to advertise online. There are a number of online car classifieds and comparing them is a whole blog series on it's own. No matter which one you choose there are a few tips that will help
1. Take more photo's...I commonly see only 5 or so photo's. there is a reason that www.customcarsales.com.au allow up to 50 images per ad. 
2. Take photo's of the good and the bad points. This will ensure the calls/contact you get are informed and still keen. Don't waste you time trying to cover up bad points most buyers are aware, especially car enthusiasts.
3. Name your photo's... Your camera will give a letter/number name to the file when the image is captured. When you have the photo's on you computer screen hold to mouse over each one then right click the mouse button and go to "rename". When you name your photo use a long description. This means your name should look like this "1976 Holden LX Torana Hatch SLR Blue" "1976 Holden LX Torana Hatch SLR Blue 2"  . Your now thinking "why?" the reason is that if you name 50 photo's with this type of description Google will register each one and it will make your ad more visible when a buyer searches.
4. Description.... usually your the one who loves this car so you need to get that across to buyers. We see $70,000 asking prices with 5 line descriptions. You need to write a paragraph on the make and model and about the car in general, then a paragraph on the paint/panel, interior,engine transmission and diff, wheels and suspension. Also any other interesting info like car show results, magazine articles etc.
5. Video,,,Use your phone or video camera to upload a video to YouTube of vimeo and then link it in the ad. Sometimes this is in the description or as in www.customcarsales.com.au there is a place for the link (make sure you use the long link not the short link). With the video start at the drivers door with the motor idling. then slowing walk around the car till you end up back at the drivers door. Go for a drive with the camera inside and have a shot of the car driving from the outside. Take a look at www.rk-motors.com video below for inspiration.

Now if this looks like too much work. Ask yourself if someone paid you $10,000 to do this would you? the honest answer is yes. Now take a look at your asking price.....someone will pay you if you make the effort..

Only $15.00 runs till it sells

Cheers,

Janson Kane

Cover your ass

At Custom Car Sales we see a huge amount of car related products and advertising but checkout www.coverking.com and their latest promo video. If you have a car you love and /or have spent plenty on you should invest in one of these.

After you read the info and have watched the video it's hard to argue a point not to get one of these.

Cheers, Janson Kane

Below is some info from www.coverking.com

Custom Car Covers by Coverking protect a vehicle from hazards while providing a clean, custom fit.Coverking spares no expense in creating a custom car cover which fits perfectly, and with the fewest seams possible. Coverking developed the widest selection of custom car cover materials, choosing to engineer it’s own fabrics instead of relying on “off the shelf” materials. Coverking has also pioneered the use of car cover fabrics in colors, two tone designs and reflective treatment. Coverking is officially licensed to silkscreen and embroider GM logos and other designs. Coverking Custom Car Covers are made using advanced CAD/CAM design and production systems. Coverking is TS16949 certified and QS-9000 quality certified. Customers are thrilled with Coverking Custom Car Covers. Even Monsoons can't get through a Coverking Custom Car Cover parked on an Island in the Indian Ocean!

Why Choose Coverking Custom Car Covers?
Coverking set out to create a superior Custom Car Covers in fit, material properties, looks, strength and features. Coverking Custom Car Covers protect the vehicle interior from fading, block prying eyes from seeing what’s inside the car (and acting as a theft deterrent) and help the environment by reducing the need for car washing. Some Coverking materials can prevent minor nicks, scratches and even small hail damage. Coverking Custom Car Covers are a great way to protect vehicles parked at airports or near industrial sites. In very sunny climates, they keep the interior cooler and in winter they keep the snow off the glass. And because Coverking insists on using the fewest seams, Coverking Custom Car Covers look great!

Pattern Fit and Design
Car Covers use a lot of material, - 30 yards is common for most vehicles. In an effort to save material, some car cover manufactures use patterns which are “chopped up” into small pieces, and sewn together creating a patchwork effect. This method saves more than 20% of total material use, but results in car covers which look like patchwork quilts – seams everywhere.

By having extra seams, risks of seam failures and seam leakage increase. In addition, the car cover looses it’s custom look and resembles a universal cover. Coverking has never compromised the function or fit of it’s Custom Car Covers to save a few yards of fabric. 

Materials
The qualities that make a Car Cover suitable for use depend largely on the fabric properties. Coverking designs it’s own fabrics, and has the world’s leading textile mills handle the manufacturing. Because Coverking has a team of engineers to specify exact material composition and construction, we are able to meet the most stringent material test requirements set out by the world’s leading vehicle manufacturers. Coverking does not use “off-the-shelf” fabrics, which are ill-suited to car cover needs. All Coverking outdoor Custom Car Cover materials are breathable – this allows moisture which is trapped under the car to escape through the cover, preventing a “greenhouse” condition of condensation which may result in rust damage. Coverking pioneered colored materials and two tone designs for outdoor use. Unlike other car covers, Coverking Custom Car Covers are designed to withstand the color fading effects of the sun. Click here for more information.

Construction
Coverking Custom Car Covers are designed and cut on sophisticated CAD/CAMsystems, which Coverking pioneered twenty years ago. All outdoor Cover king Custom Car Covers are sewn using double needle and overlapped seams, resulting in a durable, leak resistant seam which has a backup stitch if the main stitch fails. Cover king's indoor Stretch Satin fabric is sewn with a "blind seam"which is ideal for use in the indoor, show-car conditions the fabric was designed for. Coverking Custom Car Covers have neoprene elastic tensioners sewn in the front and rear of every cover. Protection grommets for the optional security kit are sewn in the sides and covered, so as not tobe visible when the car cover is covering a vehicle. All outdoor Custom Car Covers are sewn with heavy, wax coated thread. The thin coating of wax helps to seal the fabric where the needle pierced through, reducing the chance of leakage through the seam.

Advertise you car today!

 

Investment Cars Down Under

Got a bit carried away with a discussion in one of my LinkedIn groups and thought i would share it here. The question was,

What does everybody think will be the next big movers in the classic car world?

My quick reply....

Aussie muscle cars like the GT Falcon and Torana are already reaching the 50k for a good one. The 70's Monaro will become more sought after as the HK HT HG models are already at 30k for an average one and up to 300+ for a Bathurst GTS edition.

The Brock commodores as still affordable and will not lose momentum for some time.  The 80's XD and XE will earn great return if they are replica Group C racing versions.

On the immediate horizon I am and will continue to buy Holden HD and HR as they are still around but are rising in value. The EH Holden has already hit the 10k mark for a ok one but the EJ Holden is still affordable and celebrating its 50th birthday this year.

For Sale at Custom Car Sales

As a general genre the station wagon will begin a steady rise over the next 10 years led by the more scarce Aussie panel vans.

Don't forget the Valiant/Chryser brand as the production numbers were lower and now the availability is lower as well.

As for the USA cars the 50's pickups are affordable but not for long The 71-73 Mustang is snowballing as prices for the earlier models sky rocket. 

And as is the case in the US the mid to late 70s Camaro and Pontiac Trans Am's will show a great return if you buy now and hold for about 5 years.

For a last suggestion the Aussie 2002 Monaro would be a great buy as they will be bottoming out soon and due to the limited years in the return they will be collector cars in no time.

Thanks for the discussion as it has inspired me to ad a blog about this topic to our site www.customcarsales.com.au in the very near future.